Tube ice machine



Jan. M, 195% A. P. 'FULKERSON TUBE ICE MACHINE Filed May 13, 1948' IN VEN TOR.

ARCWIEEFULKEESW ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUBE ICE MACHINE Archie P. Fulkerson, Louisville, Ky .assignor to .Hemgv Vogt Machine Company, LouisvillefKy a. corporation of Kentucky Application May 13, 1948, Serial No. 26,822

3 Claims.

Tube ice machines as heretofore constructed, as exemplified by the Kubaugh Patent 2,200,424, issued May 14, 1940, include a relatively long freezer unit containing tubes surrounded by refrigerant and through which passes the water to be frozen. The machine is of massive construction, weighing on the order of several tons, and may occupy substantially the full height of the room in which it is installed. For this reason, access to the machine generally requires cutting through the ceiling of the room, or building a pit in the floor below the machine, so that when repairs are necessary the tubes can be removed. In some instances it is not possible to provide the required access space in such manner, or where possible, it adds to the cost of installing the machine.

The present invention has for its object the constructing and mounting of a tube ice machine including a freezer unit above a breaker and water storage unit, so that upon removal of the breaker and water storage unit the freezer unit is accessible for replacement of the tubes. This is accomplished by pivotally mounting the freezer unit on a support, and removably connecting the water storage and breaker unit under the freezer unit. Upon removal of the water storage unit, the freezer unit can be rotated to an inclined position, to thus provide sufficient space to permit removal of the tubes.

The invention will be described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a tube ice machine incorporating the invention, and

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the machine ready for removal of the freezer tubes.

Referring to the drawing, there is provided a supporting frame built up of suitably shaped steel members, and comprising vertical columns I supporting transverse beams 2 at the top. Each beam 2 carries a bearing block 3 suitably secured thereto, and providing an arcuate bearing surface 4 of less than 180 in extent flanked by sloping top surfaces 5 and B. A freezer unit indicated generally at 9 has two brackets [0 built up on its sides, to the bottom of each of which is secured a complementary bearing block ll providing an arcuate bearing surface I 2 not more than 180 in extent, and a, sloping bottom surface IS. The bottom surface M on the other side of the bearing surface l2 may be horizontal. Two diametrically opposed brackets and bearing blocks are provided, only one being shown in the drawings. A cylindrical bearing member [5 is located in the complementary bearing surfaces 4 and I2, and the bearing blocks l l resting on the cylindrical bearings I5, support the freezer unit in substantially balanced relation. A stop It coacting with a cross beam ll prevents rotation of the freezer unit in one direction.

The freezer unit 9 is of the water tube type in which water to be frozen is circulated through the tubes which are surrounded by a, refrigerant, such as ammonia. Secured to the bottom of the freezer unit is a housing l8 carrying a cutter or breaker, and a chute portion 19 directs the broken ice to the side, the water draining through a suitable screened opening to the water tank 2|. The Water is circulated by a pump 22 which draws water from the tank and sends it by pipe 23 to the top of the freezer, the water descending through the tubes. Pipe 23 is bolted to the pump and freezer so as to be easily removable. On the thawing cycle the refrigerant is withdrawn from the freezer through a pipe 24 bolted thereto and connected to a control tank 25 which in turn is connected through a control valve to a reservoir 26 mounted on the frame. A thawing water pipe 2'! including a solenoid operated valve is also bolted to the freezer.

When it becomes necessary to gain access to the freezer unit for repairs, the pipe 23 and pipes 24 and 21 are disconnected from the freezer unit. The water tank and cutter assembly then can be removed leaving the freezer unit free to be rotated on the rollers. After removal of a shear plate from the bottom and a cover from the top, the tubes can be withdrawn from either the bottom or top, as required. After making the necessary repairs the freezer unit is restored to its vertical position and pipes 24 and 21 are reconnected, and the water tank and cutter assembly are returned to position, the pipe 23 being reconnected between the pump and freezer. The apparatus is there ready to resume operation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tube ice machine: a frame; an upright tube type freezer unit pivotally carried by said frame; a bottom assembly including a water reservoir and ice breaker below the freezer unit and removably secured thereto; and piping removably connected to said water reservoir and freezer unit, whereby upon removal of said piping and bottom assembly the freezer unit is free to pivot to an inclined position.

2. In a tube ice machine: a frame; a pair of bearing blocks carried by said frame, each bear- 56 ing block comprising an arcuate bearing surface ing block comprising an arcuate bearing surface having a sloping top on at least one side; a tube type freezer unit having members extending from the sides thereof and supported in said bearings; 15

and a bottom assembly removably secured to said freezer unit.

ARCHIE P. FULKERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 2,387,899 Gruner Oct. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 26,423 Germany June 20, 1883 

